CINCINNATI, Ohio - There's a fine line that needs to be walked by the Giants this week. And next week. And the one after that.

They must tiptoe along the sideline and find the balance between keeping star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. healthy and making sure he's ready for the regular season. That means deciding how much (if at all) he plays in this week's scrimmages and the upcoming preseason games.

Beckham and the Giants are in Cincinnati to first scrimmage against and then play the Bengals in their preseason opener. How much to use and push Beckham this week and throughout the preseason could be one of the biggest decisions they make this year.

Without Beckham, the Giants have no chance. Their roster is flawed and he's that good. With him (and with a return to form from fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz), they could have one of the NFL's most powerful offense.

The Giants are aware of how important Beckham's health is to their season and future. So far this summer, they have handled him like a Lamborghini that hasn't yet left the lot.

Despite no visible sign of injury - Beckham had a hamstring problem this spring that followed a hamstring problem early last year - the Giants have kept close tabs on the fate of their season over the first 12 days of training camp. Beckham's practice reps have been limited. He's even admitted to picking his spots to run at 100 percent.

"I open up every now and then," Beckham said last week. "There's times where you just pull back. It's still early. Just trying to make it through as many practices as you can and get better."

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It would benefit everyone if the limited usage continued, especially this week in Cincinnati. It may even benefit the Giants if Beckham sat alongside Cruz when the scrimmages and preseason games begin. Why risk it now? What, for a few extra snaps in August?

Bubble wrap could be the way to go as the Giants have joint practices Tuesday and Wednesday with the Bengals before their preseason opener on Friday. Any way to keep Beckham out of harm's way seems the prudent route to travel, especially this week when practice will be against outside competition looking to impress their coaches instead of his own teammates who treasure his importance.

"I just think going out and having a couple practices against somebody else, [there will be] a little more intensity," coach Tom Coughlin explained of these joint practices back in June.

That could be a recipe for disaster. We've already seen Beckham be a target. It's one thing for him to be vulnerable when the games count, it's another when they're trying to get in some practice in mid-August. In this case, the risk doesn't meet the reward.

Beckham and quarterback Eli Manning are already getting in enough work. They should be ready for the regular season without much trouble no matter how much Beckham plays this week or throughout the preseason.

Beckham hasn't missed a practice this summer. It's quite the contrast from last year when he didn't complete a single practice at training camp, or log a single preseason snap.

It still worked out fine. Beckham was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year despite missing four games. It didn't take long for him to get on the same page with Manning, and they're already way ahead of the curve this year.

The Giants must to be extra-cautious with their No. 1 asset, which they have been all summer. Beckham's spent most of his time side by side with Cruz, waiting patiently for his turn as others (such as Dwayne Harris, Corey Washington and Geremy Davis) take some of the first-team reps.

It hasn't been easy. It has taken patience and understanding. It may take even more patience and understanding for Beckham to realize this is the best route to travel now as well. He's young and competitive. He wants to be on the field and perform. One of his best friends (former college teammate Jeremy Hill) is a running back for the Bengals. Surely he wants to show his pal what he can do on the field.

But if the Giants are smart, Beckham should be shelved for most of the scrimmages this week and almost all of the preseason action (except for maybe the third game). The third preseason contest is the most game-like, with starters playing close to three quarters as they try to fine-tune and get in sync for the season opener.

The reason is simple. There is no need for the Giants and Beckham to risk their seasons now. He's already admitted the hamstring problem isn't completely gone.

"Hamstrings are always going to be on your mind," Beckham said last week.

They should always be on the Giants' minds as well, but even more so than usual this week in Cincinnati. Keeping Beckham's hamstrings and body healthy needs to be priority No. 1 ... at all costs.